It’s Youth Art Month at Canton Public Library

Library release 

In honor of Youth Art Month in March, Canton Public Library will display the work of talented artists from every level of the school system.  The art will fill the main gallery, the Children’s Room, and the display case of Canton Public Library through March 31. 

A reception for the show took place Wednesday night. 

The exhibit features more than 100 pieces from students in kindergarten through grade 12 and will include a variety of media, from three-dimensional ceramic and sculptural pieces to two-dimensional work including watercolor, pencil drawings, prints, pen and ink, paintings and more.

Represented in the show are the following schools: Cherry Brook Primary School, grades K-3, with art teachers Kezia Hearn and Ellen Raposo; Canton Intermediate School, grades 4-6, with art teacher Deb Beaudoin; Canton Middle School, grades 7-8, with art teacher Linda Klusek; and Canton High School, grades 9-12, with art teachers Renee Hughes and Roselyn Marino.

Youth Art Month celebrates its forty-second anniversary this month.  Created originally as Children's Art Month in 1961 by The Crayon, Water Color &Craft Institute (now the Art & Creative Materials Institute) in cooperation with the National Art Education Association, it was expanded in 1969 to include secondary school students and, hence, became Youth Art Month. All across America schools and communities have planned projects and events to highlight the value of participating in art for all children, including the lessons students learn about cooperation, as well as appreciation of the work of others. The process of creating art develops critical thinking skills as it explores self-expression and self esteem.

Stroll through the library for a look and be prepared to have your assumptions about children’s and teenagers’ artistic capabilities exploded!  Students will have a fresh audience for their work, and families and other library patrons will be treated to a creative, visual feast prepared by the youth from our schools.

Canton Public Library is at 40 Dyer Avenue in Canton.  Library hours are Monday-Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and, through the month of March, Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. For information: (860) 693-5800 orwww.cantonpubliclibrary.org